Berklee Comes Up Big at Boston Music Awards
Berklee alumni, faculty, and staff made a strong showing in the 2012 Boston Music Awards, earning nine awards in total. YouTube phenomenon Karmin (check out Karmin’s rise to fame), featuring 2008 alumni Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan, came away with Artist of the Year. The 25th annual awards night was held December 2 at Boston’s Liberty Hotel.
Here's a complete list of Boston Music Award winners with Berklee associations:
Artist of the Year
Karmin — Amy Heidemann '08 and Nick Noonan '08
Rock Artist of the Year
Ribs — featuring alumni Chris Oquist '04 (bass, drums) and Keith Freund '09 (bass, vocals)
Pop/R&B Artist of the Year
Alumna Shea Rose ’11
Americana Artist of the Year
Kingsley Flood — featuring Berklee staff members Nick Balkin, publicist with media relations, and Jenée Morgan, catalog librarian
Gospel Artist of the Year
Berklee Reverence Gospel Choir — directed by Dennis Montgomery III, associate professor of ensembles
International Artist of the Year
Evolfo Doofeht — featuring alumnus Matthew Gibbs '12 (guitbox, vocals), Benjamin Allen Adams '12 (trombone), and students Rafferty Swinkage (keys, accordian, vocals), Ronnie Lanzilotta (bass), Tyler Kion (alto saxophone), Brian Seymour (tenor saxophone), Kai Sorensen (trumpet), and Alex Kemper (percussion)
Jazz Artist of the Year
Omar Thomas — assistant professor in Berklee’s Harmony Department
Video of the Year
“252” Gem Club — featuring students Christopher Barnes, Kristen Drymala
Best Boston Artist Who Doesn’t Live in Boston
Passion Pit — Ian Hultquist '08 (keyboards, guitar); Ayad Al Adhamy '09 (synthesizer, samples); Jeff Apruzzese '08 (bass, synth bass); and Nate Donmoyer '08 (drums)